Ludwig van Beethoven's piano works
Ludwig van Beethoven's piano works are of epoch-making importance in piano literature. Beethoven was an excellent pianist himself, who either performed many of his works himself or wrote them for schoolchildren to rehearse with them. This article lists the works for solo piano and works for piano with orchestra.
Piano sonatas
Without the three early sonatas from Bonn that are not part of the canon, Ludwig van Beethoven wrote a total of 32 sonatas for piano . They are among the most important works in piano literature. According to Hans von Bülow's famous assessment, it is also known as the “New Testament” of piano literature; the "Old Testament" of the piano literature is the Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach .
First group: Nos. 1–11 (Opus 2 - Opus 22)
Three piano sonatas op.2 (1795)
The sonatas are dedicated to Joseph Haydn .
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Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1
- Allegro
- adagio
- Menuetto / Trio: Allegretto
- Prestissimo
- It is sometimes referred to as the small appassionata . However, the similarities are largely limited to the identical key. A typical feature of Beethoven's music becomes clear in the first movement: a rhythmic motif ( dotted quarter followed by sixteenth- note triplet ) runs through the entire movement. The clear accentuation and sudden dynamic fluctuations are also characteristic of Beethoven's music. Beethoven dedicated this sonata to Joseph Haydn, his teacher at the time in Vienna.
- It was with this sonata that Beethoven performed in front of an audience for the first time. It still largely corresponds to the Haydn and Mozart model in its execution (classical sonata form, processing of the themes).
-
Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2 No. 2
- Allegro vivace
- Largo appassionato
- Scherzo / Minore: Allegretto
- Rondo: Grazioso
-
Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3
- Allegro con brio
- adagio
- Scherzo / Trio: Allegro
- Allegro assai
- This sonata exceeds the other two in scope. The first movement is reminiscent of a piano concerto - it contains two cadences , which underlines the virtuoso character of the work.
Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 7 (1796)
- Dedicated to Countess Babette von Keglevics .
- Allegro molto e con brio
- Largo, con gran espressione
- Allegro
- Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso
Was called the Grande Sonate by Beethoven . In fact, it doesn't necessarily exceed its predecessor in length, but in internal size. Contemporaries called her the one in love - at the time of the composition Beethoven raved about his pupil Comtesse Babette von Keglevics, to whom the work is dedicated.
Three piano sonatas op.10 (1798)
The sonatas are dedicated to Countess Anna Margarete von Browne.
-
Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10 No. 1
- Allegro molto e con brio
- Adagio molto
- Finale: Prestissimo
-
Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10 No. 2
- Allegro
- Allegretto
- Presto
-
Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10 No. 3
- Presto
- Largo e mesto
- Menuetto / Trio: Allegro
- Rondo: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (Pathétique) (1799)
- Dedicated to Prince Karl von Lichnowsky .
- Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
- Adagio cantabile
- Rondo: Allegro
Two piano sonatas op.14 (1799)
- Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14 No. 1
- Dedicated to Baroness Josefa von Braun.
- Allegro
- Allegretto
- Rondo: Allegro comodo
- Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 2
- Dedicated to Countess Anna Margarete von Browne.
- Allegro
- Andante
- Scherzo: Allegro assai
Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22 (1800)
- Dedicated to Count Johann Georg von Browne-Camus .
- Allegro con brio
- Adagio con molta espressione
- Minuetto
- Rondo: Allegretto
Second group: Nos. 12-27 (Opus 26 - Opus 90)
Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26 (1801)
- Dedicated to Prince Carl von Lichnowsky, this sonata ushers in a new phase of Beethoven's piano art.
- Andante con variazioni
- Scherzo / Trio: Allegro molto
- Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe
- Allegro
Two piano sonatas op.27 (1801)
Both have the nickname Sonata quasi una fantasia . The second is popular under the name "Moonlight Sonata".
- Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major, Op. 27 No. 1
- Dedicated to Princess Josephine von Liechtenstein .
- Andante - Allegro
- Allegro molto e vivace
- Adagio con espressione
- Allegro vivace
- Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 (Moonlight Sonata)
- Dedicated to Countess Giulietta Guicciardi .
- Adagio sostenuto
- Allegretto
- Presto agitato
Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major op.28 (Pastorale)
- Dedicated to Joseph Edlem von Sonnenfels .
- Allegro
- Andante
- Scherzo / Trio: Allegro vivace
- Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
Three piano sonatas op. 31 (1801–1802)
The much-quoted saying of Beethoven after completing the Sonata op. 28: "I am not satisfied with my previous work, from now on I want to take a different path", applies to these three works especially for the work in D minor , which is nicknamed "The Storm" received. The three sonatas were published between 1803 and 1805.
-
Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31 No. 1
- Allegro vivace
- Adagio grazioso
- Rondo. Allegretto
-
Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 (The Storm)
- Largo - Allegro
- adagio
- Allegretto
-
Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3 (The Hunt)
- Allegro
- Scherzo: Allegretto Vivace
- Menuetto / Trio: Moderato e grazioso
- Presto con fuoco
Two piano sonatas op.49 (1795)
These sonatas are easy works intended for piano students.
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Piano Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49 No. 1
- Andante
- Rondo: Allegro
-
Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49 No. 2
- Allegro, ma non troppo
- Tempo di menuetto
Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 (Waldstein) (1803)
- Dedicated to Count von Waldstein .
- Allegro con brio
- Introduzione: Adagio molto
- Rondo: Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
Piano Sonata No. 22 in F major, Op. 54 (1804)
- In Tempo d'un Menuetto
- Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor op.57 (Appassionata) (1804)
- This sonata, regarded as one of the main works of Beethoven's piano art, is dedicated to Count Franz von Brunsvik .
- Allegro assai
- Andante con moto
- Allegro ma non troppo - Presto
Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp major, Op. 78 (1809)
- Dedicated to Countess Therese von Brunsvik .
- Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
- Allegro vivace
Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79 (1809)
- Presto alla tedesca
- Andante
- Vivace
Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major op.81a ( Les Adieux - Das Lebewohl ) (1809)
- “Farewell”: Adagio - Allegro
- “The absence”: Andante espressivo
- "The reunion": Vivacissimamente
Beethoven dedicated this piano sonata to Archduke Rudolph .
Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90 (1814)
- In our compilation, this sonata, dedicated to Count Moritz von Lichnowsky, represents the end of Beethoven's second creative period; however, this is worth discussing.
- With liveliness and definitely with feeling and expression
- Not too fast and very singable to perform
The late piano sonatas: Nos. 28–32 (Opus 101 - Opus 111)
Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major op.101 (1816)
- The “Little Sonata for the Fortepiano” is dedicated to Baron Dorothea von Ertmann .
- Somewhat lively and with the most intimate sensation (Allegretto, ma non troppo)
- Lively. Marching (Vivace alla marcia)
- Slow and longing (Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto)
- Quickly, but not too much, and with determination (Allegro)
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 (Great Sonata for the Fortepiano) (1818)
- Beethoven dedicated his greatest piano sonata to Archduke Rudolph .
- Allegro
- Scherzo: Assai vivace
- Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento
- Largo - Allegro risoluto
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 (1821)
- The sonata is dedicated to Maximiliane Brentano.
- Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo
- Prestissimo
- Singing, with deepest sensation (Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo)
Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110 (1822)
- Moderato cantabile, molto espressivo
- Allegro molto
- Adagio, ma non troppo; Fugue: Allegro, ma non troppo
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 (1822)
- Beethoven's last piano sonata is dedicated to Archduke Rudolph.
- Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
- Arietta: Adagio molto, semplice e cantabile
Variations for piano solo
Beethoven wrote numerous cycles of variations, including:
- Six variations on a Swiss song
- 15 variations and fugue on their own theme (Eroica Variations) in E flat major op.35 (1802)
- 32 variations on an own theme in C minor WoO 80 (1806)
- 33 Changes on a waltz by Diabelli in C major op. 120 (1819–1823)
Fantasy, rondos, bagatelles, miscellaneous
- Fantasia op.77 in G minor (1809)
- 2 Rondos op. 51 (1796–1800)
- Alla Ingharese quasi un Capriccio in G major op. 129 ( The anger over the lost penny ) (1795–1798)
- 7 bagatelles op.33 (1802)
- 11 bagatelles op.119 (1820–1822)
- 6 Bagatelles op. 126 (1823–1824)
- For Elise WoO 59 (1810)
- Andante favori in F major WoO 57 (1803)
- Polonaise in C major op.89 1814
Piano concerts
Beethoven also wrote five piano concertos with an opus number and a fantasy for piano, choir and orchestra
First Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 15 (1795–1801)
- Allegro con brio
- largo
- Rondo: Allegro
Second Piano Concerto in B flat major, Op. 19 (1788–1801)
- Allegro con brio
- adagio
- Rondo: Molto allegro
Third Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 37 (1800–1803)
- Allegro con brio
- largo
- Rondo: Allegro
The 3rd Piano Concerto occupies a special place among Beethoven's five piano concertos: It is the only concerto in a minor key and is characterized by its stylistic unity. In addition, there is the proximity to Mozart's Concerto KV 491 , which was thematically, formally and atmospherically a decisive starting point for Beethoven.
Fourth piano concerto in G major op. 58 (1804–1807)
- Allegro moderato
- Andante con moto
- Rondo: Vivace
Fifth Piano Concerto in E flat major, Op. 73 (1809)
- Allegro
- Adagio un poco mosso
- Rondo: Allegro
Piano Concerto in D major op.61a (1808) (transcription of the Violin Concerto op.61 )
- Allegro ma non troppo
- Larghetto
- Rondo: Allegro
Piano Concerto WoO 4 in E flat major (1784)
- Allegro moderato
- Larghetto
- Rondo: Allegretto
Choral Fantasy (for piano, choir and orchestra) in C minor op.80 (1809)
- adagio
- Finale: Allegro
- Allegretto, ma non troppo
literature
- Hans-Joachim Hinrichsen : Beethoven. The piano sonatas. Bärenreiter, Kassel 2013, ISBN 978-3-7618-1890-9 .
- Joachim Kaiser : Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas and their interpreters. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 1975; ibid. 1999, ISBN 3-596-23601-0 .
- Siegfried Mauser : Beethoven's piano sonatas. Beck, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-406-41873-2 ; 2nd edition 2008, ISBN 978-3-406-57572-3 .
- Andreas Rücker: Beethoven's piano setting. Technology and style. Lang, Frankfurt am Main 2002, ISBN 3-631-39262-1 .
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Jürgen Uhde : Beethoven's piano music. 3 volumes. Reclam, Stuttgart 1968
- Part-new edition, Michael Uhde (Ed.): Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas. Reclam, Stuttgart 2012, ISBN 978-3-15-018958-0 .
- István Máriássy (Ed.): Ludwig van Beethoven. All piano works. 7 volumes. Könemann Music, Budapest 2001, ISBN 978-963-9059-95-5 .
Web links
- International Score Library - collection of various editions and sheet music - in the public domain
- Kreusch-Sheet-Music.net - Collection of Beethoven's piano works